Swale

Swale's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and marriage.

The population reached nearly 140,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Swale increased by 11%, from just under 123,000 to 136,000.

The addition of just over 13,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Swale was home to, on average, 2.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Swale

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Swale increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This rural area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 5,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 12% of people in Swale are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Swale by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

The percentage of Swale residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 4.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.1%, while the percentage of Swale residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Swale increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Swale, the South East and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Swale saw the South East's third-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) in Swale reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.4%.

Across the region, only Rother (from 2.2% to 3.0%) and Folkestone and Hythe (from 2.2% to 2.9%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 1.7% to 2.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Swale remained close to 3.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Swale by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Swale

The number of people in Swale that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 19,000 in 2001 to just over 39,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 29% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Swale that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 93,000 in 2001 to just under 86,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 9,300 to just over 9,000 (from 7.6% to 6.7%).

Just over 790 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 450 in 2001 (0.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Swale increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Swale by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Swale that rented privately increased from 9.0% to 15% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14%) households lived in social housing, compared with 15% in 2001. The percentage of Swale households that owned their home decreased from 73% to 68%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Swale increased by 6.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Swale, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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